Hawaii's accounting firms and professionals complete $500,000 endowment for the UH Manoa Shidler School of Accountancy

Gift will be used to fund the Donald A. Corbin Professorship in Accounting

HONOLULU — The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has received more than $500,000 toward the establishment of the Donald A. Corbin Distinguished Professorship in Accounting.

A highly regarded professor since 1961, Donald Corbin has been an inspiration to many faculty and students. Corbin retired in 1989, but has continued to advise the School of Accountancy, serving on its advisory board and helping to guide the redevelopment of its curriculum.

"We‘re extremely grateful to all of the accounting firms in Hawaiʻi and individual supporters for their commitment to improving the quality of accounting education in Hawaiʻi," said Vance Roley, dean of the Shidler College of Business. "Endowments of this nature are critical in fostering relevant research, teaching and community service at the highest level."

"Ernst & Young is honored and privileged to support the Donald A. Corbin Distinguished Professorship in Accounting. The Corbin Chair will not only benefit the School of Accountancy of the Shidler College of Business, but will also benefit the students and the business community," says Terri Fujii, Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, Honolulu Office. "We share the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa‘s commitment to promoting quality education."

KMH Managing Partner Ross R. Murakami said, "The Partners and employees of KMH LLP are extremely pleased to provide financial support for the Corbin Professorship honoring Professor Donald Corbin. Many of our professionals are alumni of the Shidler College of Business and the School of Accountancy, so we understand how important supporting the program is to the future of the accounting profession in Hawaiʻi."

Deloitte Partner Tertia Freas adds, "Deloitte continues to hire the best and the brightest from the Shidler College of Business, and we were excited to participate in the establishment of the Corbin Professorship. This combined with our Deloitte Scholarship Endowment Fund are examples of how we continue to support the University of Hawaiʻi."

Donna Vuchinich, president of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation adds, "Over the years, Professor Donald Corbin inspired and educated countless students. This endowed professorship will build on Dr. Corbin‘s legacy of providing excellent education and inspiration to many students, for years to come. We celebrate Don Corbin today as one of our great teachers and mentors, as well as those who have chosen to give back to the university in this way to perpetuate this investment in premier faculty who will be teaching the next generations of accountants for employment not only here but throughout the globe!"

The Corbin Professorship is the very first endowed professorship to be established in the School of Accountancy. The establishment of this professorship enables the Shidler College of Business to attract and retain world-class faculty with expertise in accounting while elevating the college‘s overall strength in international business.

UH Mānoa Interim Chancellor Denise Konan said, "Professorships like this are important to helping achieve our goal of transforming the college into one of the top 25 public business schools in the U.S."

The gift is a culmination of a two-year effort aimed at obtaining an endowment in honor of Donald Corbin, an emeritus professor of the UH Mānoa College of Business. Donald and his wife Martha are long-time supporters of the College and have launched this professorship initiative with a generous personal gift.

Corbin said he was overwhelmed by the accounting community‘s support. "I want to thank every single accountant in the state of Hawaiʻi, including the large accounting firms, for their continuous contribution to the Shidler College of Business and the School of Accountancy—thank you."

About the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at MānoaEstablished in 1949 as the College of Business Administration, the College was named in 2006 after alumnus Jay H. Shidler, founder and managing partner of The Shidler Group. The Shidler College of Business is renowned for its expertise in international management education and is consistently ranked among the nation‘s top 25 graduate schools for international business by U.S. News & World Report. Long recognized for its Asia-Pacific focus, the College is a professional school, offering a wide variety of degree, certificate and executive programs. The College places a strong emphasis on the development of management skills, entrepreneurship and the management of business information technology. The UH Shidler College of Business is the only graduate program in the State of Hawaiʻi accredited by AACSB International. For more information, visit .